Festival Preview: Tramlines

Tramlines returns to Sheffield this year with an exciting line-up of big names and the best in local talent.

The Yorkshire festival, now in its 7th year, will play host to Wu-Tang Clan, Basement Jaxx, Buzzcocks and The Charlatans in more than 15 venues across the city including faves like The Leadmill and The Harley. Joining the headliners will be some of the best British acts around this festival season and a long list of buzzbands on the hype machine. Read our day-by-day top tips after the jump.

Public Enemy were one of last year’s headliners

Friday

18:15 – GHOSTPOET – Main Stage

Ghostpoet’s latest album Shedding Skin sees him favouring a live band with guest vocals rather than the bedroom recordings he started out with – which makes us super excited to see him perform the new material in the flesh.

19:30 – SLAVES – Main Stage

Do not miss Slaves. The cheeky Kentish two-piece have been a little under fire surrounding the release of their latest album but it can’t be denied that they put on an electrifying show and they’re guaranteed to bring their punk garage rock to Sheffield amidst self-started chants of “Yorkshire! Yorkshire! Yorkshire!”

Slaves

20:45 – THE CHARLATANS – Main Stage

90s revival is amusing; the return of scrunchies, TFI Friday and double denim all feels a little bit too-soon. When it comes to Britpop, however, our love of it never really went away and Tim Burgess and co. are set to blow our minds with classics like “One to Another” as well as fresh tracks from their new album.

22:00 – CHARLOTTE OC – Sheffield Cathedral

One of the best things about metropolitan festivals like Tramlines are the unique venues and getting to see acts in a special setting. The grandiose vibes of the cathedral give the perfect backdrop for the soulful pop workings of Charlotte OC with superb acoustics to match her immaculate vocals.

2:00 – EROL ALKAN – Code

Technically a Saturday act (sorry), Erol Alkan will be spinning discs at Code for anyone with an amazing amount of stamina and those who know that, weirdly, there’s more to festival life than guitar bands.

Erol Alkan

Saturday

15:00 – TROPIC OF YOUTH – Devonshire Green

On a head-scratching day of clashes and tough choices, get down early to see Sheffiled’s own ToY fill Devonshire Green with sun-drenched “soft rock world beat.” Please, please, please don’t rain.

Local heroes Rebecca Taylor and Charles Watson have carved out an impressive career since 2009’s Moshi Moshi debut Yeah So. Evolving from a charming duo to confident full band with their ace latest album Complete Surrender it’s sure to be a show to remember.

Slow Club

20:40 – HOOTON TENNIS CLUB – The Leadmill

Liverpool’s HTC have been plugging away at UK shows for the last few months, bringing their frenzied garage rock to the masses with tracks from their debut album Highest Point in Cliff Town and making their way onto many a “Ones to Watch” list.

20:45 – BASEMENT JAXX – Main Stage

Basement Jaxx are here to bring the party to Tramlines in 2015. As if we needed any more evidence that this year is the festival’s best line-up yet, the once-Glastonbury headliners will be cracking out some of their biggest chart hits as well as some joyous club tunes to get us in the mood for a massive summer.

Basement Jaxx

21:45 – MARIKA HACKMAN – Sheffield Cathedral

Another act truly fitting for this venue, folk-infused melancholy from Marika Hackman will be mesmerising, brooding and experiential to say the least.

Sunday

15:40 – BUZZCOCKS – Main Stage

Legendary act too important to miss, Buzzcocks will bring their own original brand of punk rock to Sheffield with a catalogue from their three decades in independent music. Thank you, Tramlines, for making this one happen!

18:00 – THE BIG MOON – Queens Social Club

These four girls from London have been described as sounding like PJ Harvey meets The Slits – what’s not to like?!

18:30 – KATE TEMPEST – Main Stage

Spoken word artist Kate Tempest was nominated for the 2014 Mercury Prize for her album Everybody Down and it’s easy to see why; an outstanding work of street poetry backed by off-kilter production makes her storytelling fascinating to listen to and seriously exciting to watch.

19:45 – WU-TANG CLAN – Main Stage

Another must-see act, Wu-Tang Clan are one of the most influential acts in hip-hop – and music – history. If names like RZA, Ghostface Killah, Method Man amongst others don’t get you totally stoked, nothing will!

Wu Tang Clan

20:55 – STEALING SHEEP – The Leadmill

Stealing Sheep seamlessly pair their music with amazing visuals – all having backgrounds in art, the Liverpool trio are heavily involved in artwork for their beautifully textured, electronic-infused “medieval-kraut-rock.” Having played with the likes of alt-j and St. Vincent, they expertly bring their visionary charm to the stage with truly fantastical performances.

21:00 – HONEYBLOOD – Queens Social Club

Lo-fi punk rock doesn’t have to rely on great musicianship but what if that was your sound and you were a great musician? Honeyblood’s well-crafted, stripped down rock outfit smashes audiences with just drums and guitar.

Honeyblood

22:00 – DUTCH UNCLES – Queens Social Club

Manchester act Dutch Uncles are well known for their brilliant art-pop and excellent live shows that often see frontman Duncan Wallis busting out some interesting dance moves to match his stuttered falsetto.

That’s it – and there are a few clashes in there. We’re sure we’ll discover even more amazing acts in this year’s 3 day festival. Have a good one!